Dearica Hamby discrimination allegations has caused tention to the WNBA world bringing her former team Los Angeles Aces to the radar. Hamby is one of the best female basketballers in the world of sports and she is well-known as a vocal player who doesn’t shut up when things are going wrong. Prior to joining her current team, the Los Angeles Sparks she was playing for Los Angeles Aces and it seems they didn’t part ways on good terms.
After Dearica was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, she narrated how she was unprofessionally handled by her former club and termed it as “traumatizing”. As of 8th February 2023, the Los Angeles Aces are being investigated by the sanctioning body WNBA for discriminating the player after she got pregnant.
With so much controversy surrounding her former club, Dearica stated that she might file for a lawsuit. On the other hand, she is hoping the WNBA is working on the issue the way it’s supposed. According to Dearica, getting traded to another team was not the issue since it’s part of the business but being lied to, bullied, discriminated and manipulated by the team is where she draws the line.
The 29-year-old foward signed a 2-year contract extension with the Aces in June but she would later be told that she signed the contract knowing well she was pregnant. However, according to her this was not the case, so the team suggested that it wasn’t sure of her commitment to the team and they believe she wasn’t ready for this season.
Dearica announced about her pregnancy in September after the team clinched the 2022 WNBA victory. Being told she wasn’t ready to play for the Aces this season felt as a betrayal and she couldn’t hold it any more. According to her she had prepared to play in this season and she had shown all the desire to do so but at the end she was told she wasn’t taking her workouts seriously.
In her statement Dearica said,
I was told that I was ‘a question mark’ and that it was said that I said I would ‘get pregnant again’ and there was a concern for my level of commitment to the team.
She went on to say,
I planned to play this season, and I have expressed my desire to play this season,” Hamby said. “I have pushed myself throughout my entire pregnancy and have continued to work out (basketball included) on my own and with team staff – even on days where it was uncomfortable to walk, only to be inaccurately told that ‘I was not taking my workouts seriously.
WNBA Investigates Dearic Hamby Discrimination Allegations
The Las Vegas Aces are under investigation by the WNBA for making under-the-table payment offers to both current players and free agents, per @TheNextHoops pic.twitter.com/pr8JpJ3RMC
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 8, 2023
Following Dearic Hambly allegations on her social media platforms, the women’s basketball sanctioning body hasn’t turned a blind eye on this. The body has announced that it has opened an investigation and they are following the case closely to ensure players aren’t being mistreated.
On the other hand, Los Angeles Aces haven’t commented on the matter but they have confirmed they are cooperating with WNBA to bring the matter to an end. The Aces are the reigning Champions but seems the season is going to be a little tougher for them incase they are found guilty as charged.
In their statement, the team said,
As an organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the tremendously talented women in our league, we take seriously our responsibility to hold ourselves to the highest professional standards.